PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Moe Lester (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenji Watanabe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lester comes to the cage accompanied by Twisted. The crowd seem to be enjoying Watanabe's choice of entrance music: Love Hate Love. Moe Lester had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Lester
vs
Watanabe

170 cm
32
150 lbs
32 - 16 - 0

172 cm
31
145 lbs
20 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 32 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Moe Lester!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Kenji Watanabe!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lester with a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lester looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lester is looking to clinch.

Watanabe shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Watanabe was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Watanabe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Watanabe fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Lester sneaks back into half guard.
Watanabe is trying to control. Lester wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lester is trying to get back to full guard.

Watanabe is looking for a kimura but Lester is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Watanabe to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe is keen to just control but Lester is a slippery customer.
Lester has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Watanabe is working away from the top position though.
Lester wants to get back to his feet.
Watanabe seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lester does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lester slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Watanabe trying to control but Lester is working from the bottom.
Watanabe stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lester swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Watanabe would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lester trying to keep a closed guard but Watanabe is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe wants to control from the top but Lester keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kenji Watanabe.
Lester lands a glancing blow to the side of Watanabe's head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Watanabe.
Lester moves away from the strike by Watanabe.
Lester keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Watanabe.
Lester lands a lovely overhand right.
Watanabe waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Lester.
Watanabe takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lester gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
Lester utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Lester tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Watanabe lands with a left to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
Lester lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lester doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Lester.
Lester misses with an elbow over the top.
Lester tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Watanabe makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Lester gets through Watanabe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lester struggles to land a body shot inside as Watanabe controls his hands.
Watanabe throws a head punch that misses.
Lester blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe lands a nice uppercut.
Lester tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lester lands with a short shot to the head.
Watanabe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lester with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
Lester trying to land knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lester tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Come on Lester - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Lester with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Lester misses with a knee to the head.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lester pressing his opponent against the cage.
Lester lands a hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Moe Lester will probably get the nod.
That's time! Lester's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Watanabe takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Lester uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Watanabe looks to land a right hand but Lester moved out of range.
Lester tries to clinch up but Watanabe circles away and keeps his distance.
Lester misses with a hook.
Lester misses with a wild body shot.
Lester takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Watanabe moves out of range of the leg kick from Lester.

Watanabe drives through and clinches with Lester against the cage.
Come on Watanabe - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Lester blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lester is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Watanabe is defending well for now.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Watanabe stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.
The referee calls for Watanabe to work.
Lester landing knees to the head.

It looks like Kenji Watanabe has been cut.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Lester uses good head movement to avoid it.
Watanabe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lester landing knees to the head.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Watanabe misses with a knee to the head.
Lester controlling the action here for a moment.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Lester.
Watanabe misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe lands an uppercut.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watanabe takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lester tries to work over Watanabe's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lester blocking some punches.
Lester crunches a lovely knee into Watanabe's ribcage.
Lester tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.
Lester lands with a right to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watanabe.
Watanabe working aggressively here.
Watanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Lester.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lester misses with an elbow strike.
Lester landing knees to the body.
Lester misses with a short punch on the inside.
Watanabe misses with a punch on the inside.
Watanabe lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Watanabe blocks an elbow strike from Lester.
Watanabe lands with a short shot to the head.
Lester lands a body punch.
Watanabe misses with some punches.
Watanabe looking to throw knees to the head but Lester is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Lester blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Watanabe working aggressively here.
Lester lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Watanabe working aggressively here.
Watanabe's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watanabe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Lester.
Lester blocks an uppercut.
Watanabe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lester has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Watanabe tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Watanabe taking a breather.
A right hand to the body from Lester.
Lester blocks an uppercut.
Lester misses with a knee to the head.
Watanabe doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Watanabe managing to block the knees to the body from Lester.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Lester uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lester tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Lester utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Lester uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Watanabe misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe takes an elbow to the temple.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Lester uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lester cracks Watanabe with a nice body shot.
Lester blocking some punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lester trying to stall but Watanabe improves his position.
Watanabe softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
Watanabe tries a knee to the head but Lester blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kenji Watanabe will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Kenji Watanabe's cut.
That's time! Lester's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Watanabe misses with an uppercut. Lester saw that one coming.
Lester slips a straight right by Watanabe.
Nice shot by Lester.

Lester closes the distance and clinches.
Lester tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Watanabe avoids it.
Moe Lester has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lester connects with a nasty looking knee right to Watanabe's face.
Lester tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.
Lester landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Watanabe is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Lester throws knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Lester.
Watanabe wants to stall.
Lester blocking some punches.
Lester looking to throw knees to the head but Watanabe is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester connects with a nasty looking knee right to Watanabe's face.
Lester will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Watanabe up against the cage.
Watanabe swings wildly with an uppercut but Lester uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lester with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lester missing with knees to the body.
Watanabe avoiding damage as Lester throws knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Lester obliges.
Watanabe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lester has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lester lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Watanabe.
Lester landing knees to the head.
Watanabe scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Watanabe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Watanabe tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lester's elbow.
Watanabe throws a punch but it's blocked by Lester.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Watanabe misses with a knee to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Watanabe fails to land.
Watanabe misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lester pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Lester scores a nice knee to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Watanabe.
Watanabe being controlled against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Watanabe is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Lester is defending well for now.
Watanabe lands with a light punch inside.
Watanabe has a couple of punches blocked by Lester.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lester taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lester gets through Watanabe's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Watanabe fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Watanabe lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Lester blocking some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lester softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lester with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lester lands a good knee to the midsection. Watanabe won't want to take too many of those.
Lester missing with knees to the body.
Lester blocks an uppercut.
Lester blocking some punches.
Watanabe misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lester lands a nice uppercut.
Lester prevents a body shot from Watanabe.
Watanabe swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lester stalling in the clinch but Watanabe improves position.
Watanabe scores with a shoulder strike.
Lester throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Watanabe blocks it with crossed arms.
Lester tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Watanabe tries to land a knee to the head but Lester blocks with his arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lester blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lester trying to land knees to the body.
Lester tries to land knees in the clinch but Watanabe avoids the damage to the body.
Watanabe lands a left hand that snaps the head of Lester backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Watanabe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Watanabe misses with a hook from the clinch.
Watanabe misses with the head strike.
Lester's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Watanabe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Watanabe tries to work over Lester's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lester.
Lester makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lester misses with a knee strike.
Watanabe with a knee to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lester.
Lester blocking some punches.
Lester blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Moe Lester.
I think Lester has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Moe Lester!
After winning the bout, Moe Lester thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.